Actuation and control of limbs through motor nerve stimulation
View Patent ↗Apparatus for actuating a skeletal muscle of a patient is provided. The apparatus typically includes a plurality of electrodes, which are adapted to be placed in a vicinity of a motor nerve that innervates the skeletal muscle. A control unit, is preferably adapted to drive a current between two or more of the plurality of electrodes, and to configure the current such that a first subset of axons in the nerve is excited by the current and such that a second subset of axons in the nerve is not excited by the current.
1. A method comprising:
placing electromagnets in a patient such that the electromagnets partially or completely surround a nerve of the patient;
driving the electromagnets to generate a varying magnetic field that induces an electric current in the nerve; and
configuring the field such that a first subset of axons in the nerve is excited by the current and such that a second subset of axons in the nerve is not excited by the current.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the nerve includes a motor nerve of the patient, and wherein placing the electromagnets comprises placing the electromagnets such that the electromagnets partially or complete surround the motor nerve.
3. A method according to claim 1 , and comprising receiving an instruction from the patient, wherein configuring the field comprises configuring the field responsive to the instruction.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein configuring the field comprises configuring the field from an implantation site within a body of the patient.
5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein configuring the field comprises configuring the field to treat a urinary disorder.
6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the urinary disorder includes urinary incontinence, and wherein configuring the field comprises configuring the field to treat the urinary incontinence.
7. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the urinary incontinence includes urinary stress incontinence, and wherein configuring the field comprises configuring the field to treat the urinary stress incontinence.
8. A method according to claim 5 , wherein configuring the field comprises configuring the field to treat irritative symptoms of urinary frequency and urgency.
9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the nerve innervates a pelvic floor muscle of the subject, and wherein placing the electromagnets comprises placing the electromagnets in a vicinity of the nerve so as to stimulate the pelvic floor muscle.
10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein configuring the field comprises configuring the field to treat a urinary disorder.